Easter  in  §akm 

By  Wm.  A.  Blair 


THE  FIRST 
EARLY  EASTE%  MORNINg  SERVICE 

ON  THE 

HERRNHUT    GOD'S   ACRE 

April  13,  1732 

"In  the  young  men's  meeting  on  April  12th 
we  were  of  one  mind  that  on  Easter  Day 
we  would  go  to  our  Resting  Place  upon  the 
Hutberg  before  the  rising  of  the  sun;  which 
was  done  before  four  o'clock  on  the  morn- 
ing of  the  13th.  Later,  when  we  had  spent 
an  hour  and  a  half  in  singing  on  the  Hut- 
berg, and  had  returned,  a  song  and  prayer 
service  was  held  in  the,  Saal."  (Croeger, 
Volume  I,  page  224.) 


lEaate r  tn  Salem 


"Tomb,  thou  shalt  not  hold  him  longer; 
Death  is  strong,  but  life  is  stronger; 
Stronger  than  the  dark, — the  light; 
Stronger  than  the  wrong, — the  right; 
Faith  and  Hope  triumphant  say 
Christ  will  rise  on  Easter  day." 

—Phillips  Brooks 

Silent  is  the  great  visitor-thronged 
city. 

"Night's  black  mantle  covers  all  alike 
'Tis  the  witching  hour  of  night; 
Orbed  is  the  moon  and  bright, 
And  the  stars, — they  glisten,  glisten, 
Seeming  with  bright  eyes  to  listen, — 
For  what  listen  they?" 

Perhaps  for  the  sweet  song  the 
angels  sang;  or,  for  the  glad  cho- 
rales that  usher  Easter  in.  Some  two 
short  hours  since 

"The  lonely  moon 
From  the  slow-opening  curtains  of  the 

clouds 
Walked  in  beauty  to  her  midnight 

throne/ ' 

cr 
oo 
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the  well-trained  groups,  with  an- 
cient horns,  stand  here  and  there 
throughout  the  city's  bounds.  Sud- 
denly at  the  appointed  hour,  as  if 
with  one  accord,  the  sacred  hymns 
peal  forth  almost  beneath  the  wait- 
ing windows  of  each  home,  gently 
yet  solemnly  calling  all  from 
sleep. 

"Hark!  the  numbers  soft  and  clear 
Gently  steal  upon  the  ear" — 

from  near  at  hand,  from  neighbor- 
ing square, 

"Now  heard  far  off,  so  far  as  but  to  seem 
Like    the    faint    exquisite    music    of    a 
dream." 

*  In  every  home,  despite  the  hour, 
all  now  arise,  then  quietly  to  the 
tranquil  square  proceed,  o'er  which 
the  tall  church  steeple  casts  a  bene- 
diction, constant,  tender,  sweet. 

"Night's  black  mantle  still  covers  all 
alike," 

but  every  eye  is  fastened  on  that  old 
church  door.  Slowly,  quietly,  gen- 
tly, now  at  last  it  opens  wide.   The 


host  of  ushers,  thronging  choir 
and  all  the  pastors  of  that  faith, 
from  all  the  province  round,  appear 
and  disappear  into  the  gathered 
throng.  A  moment  later,  then,  a 
form  erect,  in  priestly  garb,  a  strik- 
ing face,  a  "good  gray  head  which 
all  men  know,"  as  if  by  magic  cen- 
tres in  the  scene.  Upon  the  portal 
all  alone  he  stands,  framed  as  it 
were  in  a  great  picture  there.  It  is 
the  Bishop,  well  beloved, 

"Whose  preaching,  but  far  more  his 

practice  wrought 
A  living  sermon  of  the  truths  he  taught. " 

His  voice,  so  clear,  so  marvelous, 
so  sweet,  sounds  forth  in  tones  of 
triumph  and  of  joy  that  all  may 
hear,  the  greeting  apostolic, 

"The  Lord  is  risen !" 

Oh,  there's  something  in  that 
voice  and  in  that  call  that  touches 
every  heart  and  brings  in  thunder 
tones  the  hearty  glad  response, 

"The  Lord  is  risen  indeed!" 


Soon  the  great  procession  forms, 
and  at  its  head  uhis  office  sacred, 
his  credentials  clear,"  the  Bishop 
leads  it  on.  In  his  footsteps  "fol- 
low fast"  one  of  the  bands,  and 
others,  finding  ^places  here  and 
there,  play,  antiphonally  as  they 
march.  Through  hallowed  avenue 
and  fair,  the  vast  throng  slowly 
makes  its  way,  until  a  welcoming 
gate  is  found  o'er  which  a  sweet 
inscription  ever  says, 

"I  am  the  Resurrection  and  the.  Life." 

Beneath  the  arch  the  Bishop  now 
has  passed  and  in  the  centre  of  uthe 
field  and  acre  of  our  God,"  he  takes 
his  stand. 

From  every  blossom-covered 
grave  there  springs  a  fragrant,  rich 
perfume, 

"And  the  fresh  air  of  incense-breathing 
morn 
Doth  wooingly  embrace  it." 

Night's  candles  have  almost 
burned  out,  the  day  begins  to  break 
neath  the  "opening  eyelids  of  the 


morn,"  and,  in  the  east,  a  mellow 
light  a  promise  brings,  that  soon 
the  radiant  sun,  "God's  crest  upon 
his  azure  shield,"  will  flame  again 
upon  the  forehead  of  the  morning 
sky.  On  what  a  scene,  that  none 
can  e'er  forget,  will  its  first  rays  de- 
scend !  More  than  thirty  thousand, 
in  His  image  made,  from  many  a 
city,  town,  and  state,  are  standing, 
waiting  there,  in  silence  grave  and 
in  deep  reverence  wrapt.  None  fail 
to  hear  the  Bishop's  words.  None 
can  forget  that  service  there.  All 
feel  the  thrill  of  this  great  call  be- 
fore the  benediction  comes,— 

"Glory  be  to  Him  who  is  the  Resur- 
rection and  the  Life!  He  was  dead 
and  behold  He  is  alive  evermore; 
And  he  that  believeth  in  Him, 
though  he  were  dead,  yet  shall  he 
live.  Glory  be  to  Him  in  the  church 
which  waiteth  for  Him,  and  in  that 
which  is  around  Him  from  ever- 
lasting to  everlasting.     Amen." 

But  why  stand  you  silent  there? 
The  multitude  has  gone,  the  ser- 
vice o'er. 


UNIVERSITY  OF  N.C.  AT  CHAPEL  HILL 


00034024617 


FOR  USE  ONLY  IN 
THE  NORTH  CAROLINA  COLLECTION 


Form  No.  A-368,  Rev.  8/95 


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